vegans?

MsKateKeen

Any others out there?

Most people think that if you are vegan that you are healthy & thin, but it is not that easy. I have been vegetarian my whole life and vegan for most. For most of my adult life, I have learned to make vegan "rich & hearty" food, but that is not always good. I need to concentrate on more of a plant based vegan diet...any other vegans out there?

MsKateKeen

bump

no other vegans, really?

ohiogirl30

I'm here! I have that exact same problem. I need to start following the vegan food pyramid to be sure I am getting the correct nutrition, and I havent been! So glad your here too

bevcrok

I definitely relate. I am trying to move towards more produce-based meals and to limit high fat, high sugar foods. I am also a dessert fiend, which doesn't help.

MsKateKeen

Yea, I seem to eat a lot of bread and "fake meats" which are not only NOT the best form of protein, but are basically glorified processed junk food.

bka8

I've just been wondering - is it cool to eat yeast if you're a vegan?

monstertwelve

I AM!!!

Oreos are my enemy!!!

anovasjo

Vegan here, hello. :flowerforyou:

pratrat150

I'm a vegan! So excited that there are a few on here.

I'm totally with you. Being vegan does not mean that you are thin and healthy. There are so many processed vegan junk foods out there!

I've been trying to cut out processed foods and its definitely been working. I have also seen a huge increase in energy. Anyway, friend me and we can keep in touch, y'all!

tinboy

I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for the majority of my life, raised that way. I did try a vegan diet for about a year, very difficult. However, I again, as others have said, need to go to more produce and less pre-prepared foods...it is a lot more work, but tastes very good if the time and effort are made. I'm finding it extra effort to work on getting good protein being a vegetarian, I feel for you, being vegan, but you can do it! I'm sure glad I'm not a Celiac (at least I hope I'm not!!!). You go girl!

MsKateKeen

I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for the majority of my life, raised that way. I did try a vegan diet for about a year, very difficult. However, I again, as others have said, need to go to more produce and less pre-prepared foods...it is a lot more work, but tastes very good if the time and effort are made. I'm finding it extra effort to work on getting good protein being a vegetarian, I feel for you, being vegan, but you can do it! I'm sure glad I'm not a Celiac (at least I hope I'm not!!!). You go girl!

I was raised a ovo-lacto vegetarian too!, then went vegan at 14 years old, and then I've gone back and forth with vegan & vegetarian in my adulthood

nepenthes59

Sadly, I fell off the vegan wagon due to the fact that I had 22 hospital stays since 2006 - my Dr always teased me that I needed a good steak dinner - Since he saved my life, I don't mind the teasing~! haha

I try to eat vegan meals - & have never stopped being vegetarian

DeannaOnline

I am vegetarian (and no eggs) - I'm moving towards Vegan now!

Trishkit

I'm vegan! I have been vegan since January of last year, and yep, still overweight! People expected me to get all skinny, but I usually eat too much, which negates the fact that I'm eating healthier overall. And I love baking....

I'm working toward consuming less processed stuff, as well. Though I love my Field Roast smoked apple sage "sausages" -- mmm! At least I can pronounce everything on the label and know what everything is! My biggest problem is failing to make a meal plan for the week, which means I'm more likely to get home and make something from a box (like tonight's risotto, which is high in sodium), rather than cook a full meal. When I plan out my meals for the week, I do so much better!

So tonight, when I get home from Zumba, I'm totally whipping up a batch of my favorite oatmeal with steel cut oats, to have for breakfast in the morning. :-)

Feel free to add me!

pratrat150

I'm vegan! I have been vegan since January of last year, and yep, still overweight! People expected me to get all skinny, but I usually eat too much, which negates the fact that I'm eating healthier overall. And I love baking....

I'm working toward consuming less processed stuff, as well. Though I love my Field Roast smoked apple sage "sausages" -- mmm! At least I can pronounce everything on the label and know what everything is! My biggest problem is failing to make a meal plan for the week, which means I'm more likely to get home and make something from a box (like tonight's risotto, which is high in sodium), rather than cook a full meal. When I plan out my meals for the week, I do so much better!

So tonight, when I get home from Zumba, I'm totally whipping up a batch of my favorite oatmeal with steel cut oats, to have for breakfast in the morning. :-)

Feel free to add me!

I SOOOO agree with you! If you plan out your meals, its much easier to eat more whole foods. I think the planning thing applies whether you are veggie/vegan or an omnivore.

I keep all the "bad" food outta the house. If I'm really craving something, I'll go to the store and buy it just specifically for that time. Usually, I end up being too lazy to do that and just deal with the craving. BUT, I have found that if I eat more raw/whole foods and pay attention to getting the nutirition I need, I don't even have cravings.

Anyone up for keeping this thread going to discuss our vegan struggles and whatnot? I definitely could use the support and the ideas!

nepenthes59

Vegan friendly - macrobiotic - very tasty!
http://www.lenoresnatural.com/recipes/recipes.php

MrsFettucine

I just started the Eat to Live diet by Joel Fuhrman, MD. He recommends eating unlimited amounts of vegetables (especially green leafy), fresh fruits, and beans. Limited quantities of starchy vegetables, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, dried fruit, ground flaxseeds. Off-limits are animal products, including dairy, fruit juice, and oils. His book includes recipes. I lost a pound the first day.

amandoid

Vegetarian here! Have been planning lots of vegan meals lately! I have found that all vegetarian/vegan cookbooks are NOT created equal. What are you favorites?!

kayla0134

I'm a vegetarian! Trying to make my way towards becoming vegan. I have noticed that my sodium intake is a lot higher than it should be. I don't understand this since the majority of what I am eating is strictly fruits and vegetables, with little to no processed food. Anyone else having this problem??

reasonablyvain

I'm vegan have been for about 2 years now. It's totally true that being vegan doesn't necessarily mean being thin, although it does help your odds a good deal - I've read statistics like 60% less likely to be obese! Luckily I'm not even technically overweight (unless you take frame size into account eeeep!) but I do have troubles losing weight and some people (although these people are, like, my mother and her friend the naturopath sooo not the most qualified lol) say it might be because I am vegan. I don't think this is true. Has anyone encountered any information to suggest it is?

MsKateKeen

Vegetarian here! Have been planning lots of vegan meals lately! I have found that all vegetarian/vegan cookbooks are NOT created equal. What are you favorites?!

Any book by Isa Chandra & Sarah Kramer, I own every book they have written, and my friend just wrote a great vegan book;

http://www.vegangirlsguide.com/

ccutter87

So I've been a vegetarian for a year and a half and for the entire time I've been extremely restrictive of intake of dairy products and eggs, but now I'd like to make the official switch to being a vegan. The problem is (and I know y'all have heard this before!) I love cheese. I mean, I really, really, reallyyyyyy love it! Even though I rarely eat it (basically only when I eat out), the thought of never having it kills me. I know there are tons of brands of vegan cheese out there, but I'm hesitant as to which one(s) to buy because I've heard so many bad things about them. Any suggestions/reviews as to what the best brands are? I'm looking for substitutes for any (and every...haha!) type of cheese out there!

veggiechick2011

I'm here too! Vegan for over 3 years -- "vegetarian" with dairy and eggs for 14 years prior to that.

One reason I started on a vegan diet is because I was due to get married and had 7 months to prepare. Another reason is because I was very much concerned about the combined family medical history my husband and I were bringing into the marriage (and possible future generation) -- on his side, there's been several types of cancers, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and on my side, a lot of type two diabetes. I wanted to start a happy, healthy marriage.

I had given up flesh products as a young teenager because I never thought it was right to eat animals, and because of one simple statement I heard someone say, "How can you expect life when you eat death?" For some reason, in my young mind, it totally made sense and I therefore cut out all flesh foods without giving it another thought -- but that also means I did not read any thing or see any videos about the topic and hence had no idea that death and torture were also very much a part of the egg and dairy industry. I wish I had known -- I felt so hoodwinked when I finally learned the truth as an adult, but I digress...

After reading a book called "Skinny *****," I realized, duh, it's the food I'm still eating that keeps me pudgy! Then this very simplified book led me to the research of Dr. McDougall, Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, and Dr. T. Colin Campbell. The evidence for how food has caused all these degenerative diseases I was concerned about was just so clear -- I never looked back again.

Veganism can come with the benefit of skinniness and excellent health, or it can come with overweight and illness -- just like the rest of the population on the Standard American Diet.

Initially, just by simply dropping cheese and eggs out of my diet, I dropped seven pounds in less than three weeks without batting an eyelash. I couldn't believe how much extra weight I had because of cheese (which is physically addictive)!!!

Then by walking 4 miles per day, lifting weights four times per week, and following recipes from the books of Dr. McDougall and Dr. Barnard, I lost an additional 11 pounds and was the most fit, slender, and healthy I had ever been.

So why am I here, counting calories and exercise with this program???

Well, in the last one year I went through some drama. I had an extremely difficult job assignment that kept me out of the house and the gym. I then experienced several months with the threat of losing this job, and then ultimately I lost it and became unemployed. During this one year, I remained vegan as I have and always will be, but did not make the best food choices, often going for quick and convenient rather than healthy. I also began cooking a lot of comfort foods and desserts as well, since all I wanted to do under stress is eat!! When I lost my job, I read tons of cookbooks, experimented with new recipes and made even more desserts. It's been fun, but now that I am back to work part-time, I don't fit into my professional clothing like my slacks and button down shirts (six months in sweatpants makes you lost track of your body size!!!)

Now I am back at the gym every day for the last 2 1/2 weeks and brought out those old recipes from Dr. McDougall and Dr. Barnard. My first week I lost 3 pounds, and I don't know about this week because my weigh in day is Friday. But I can say that my one pair of black slacks fits less snugly, and I am feeling an intense increase in energy as well as improvement with my activities at the gym.

I'm explaining this little story because I read the replies about whether or not vegan = thin and I can tell you I've been on both sides of it, having lost or gained weight as a vegan. I can also say that it is absolutely not hard to be vegan AT ALL!!! A little bit of creativity and extra time spent in the produce or bulk grain section of the grocery store will solve that problem. I have never had a problem getting enough protein or any other nutrients. My blood work (which I do about once per year) has always shown excellent health, and even led to a small discount on a life insurance plan. It's easy, delicious, and healthy for the planet, the animals, and human beings.

OldHickory28

Yeast is great! All yeasts are fungi, and fungi aren't animals.

If you're vegan, there is nothing better than nutritional yeast on some garlic bread! Nutritional yeast is also great in tofu scrambles and curries.

OldHickory28

I've been a vegan for four years. I eat a fair amount of fake meats (Boca chickn patties and anything by Tofurkey) , frozen burritioes, and mass quantities of steamed veggies. Seems to work well for me. I'm healthier than I've ever been. It is easy to eat too much, but the gym balances it out. Even the junkiest food I eat (e.g. Tofurkey frozen pizza or chicken fried seitan - both of which are off the chain) is still tremendously less junky than a their non-vegan equivalents. Chips are still a death trap, though.

pesimax

Hey, I'm new and I'm a vegan (about three years now, veggie since i was 16). My main dieting problem was I love vegan pasta....lots of it. So coming here should force the craving out of me lol.

barefootbeauty

Hey everyone! I'm a vegan/vegetarian and have been for a few years. I don't have an issue not eating dairy or eggs; and I've never been much for the faux-meat stuff. My issue is pasta and carbs (bread, tortilla's, etc).

Right now I'm working on eating a clean, fresh diet. Nothing processed. It seems to be helping and I've lost 12 pounds in about 6 weeks. I'm going back to school to become a thai massage therapist... and lets face it, no one wants a fat chick working their kinks out

Another issue of mine is that I work in brewery.... Yup. I'm surrounded by beer all day long and a requirement of my job is to drink beer. (sigh) Tough life...

Add me if you're looking for veg-head support!!

VeganPride

I have tried a lot of vegan cheeses and, in my humble opinion, Daiya is the very best one. Whole Foods sells it.

~Anna

VeganFit

Vegan Loud and Proud over here LOL! Going Vegan was one of the easiest choices i've ever made (when I did decide to finally do it that is) and I've never looked back. I've never thought it was 'hard' or thought that I 'couldn't' have things I just chose differently. I've seen so many people tell me I 'can't' have this or that and usually in a negative tone and to that I always reply.. I CAN have those things, I just choose not to. At first going vegan was more so for spirit and health benefits but now its so much more than that. I absolutely loved reading Skinny ***** and Skinny *kitten*! So great and funny. Watching Documentaries and keeping informed on whats what, whos who and all that jazz has really transformed my life. Going Vegan defo is very rewarding (for me). Love that there are other Vegans here! One thing that I am determined to master is Tofu! hah.

OneLostSock

I've been a vegetarian for the best part of 20 years and have made attempts at veganism on numerous occasions. I've been milk free for a while and only eat the eggs from a friends garden (ex-battery hens). I am trying to cut out milk and eggs that are hidden in foodstuffs and tend to bake from scratch. Turning Vegan is the hardest challenge i have set myself (even harder than the losing weight issue)!!!

Cheese is def my downfall though. The fake ones smell like sick!

kouzzzz

The problem about eating Vegan is that you tend to eat more processed foods. Processed foods make you gain weight. You have to stick with fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.